Mining collector

ABSTRACT

A COLLECTOR STRUCTURE FOR SUBSEA MINING OPERATIONS. THE COLLECTOR IS GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL AND ROTATABLE AROUND A HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS. A PLURALITY OF TRAYS CYLINDRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS ARE CONNECTED TO A PLURALITY OF RINGS WHICH ENGAGE THE SEA BED AND ROTATE THE TRAYS AS THE COLLECTOR IS PULLED. A PLURALITY OF TEETH, EACH TOOTH LOCATED BETWEEN RESPECTIVE RINGS AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE COLLECTOR INSURE THAT SCOOPED UP AGGREGATES ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE TRAYS, A HOPPER AT THE FRONT OF THE COLLECTOR STRUCTURE RECEIVES THE AGGREGATE MATERIAL CARRIED BY THE TRAYS WHEN THE TRAYS REVOLVE TO A POINT WHERE THE AGGREGATES MAY DROP INTO THE HOPPER. SCREENS IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE REVOLVING TRAYS ALLOW THE AMBIENT WATER MOVING PAST THE COLLECTOR TO SWEEP OUT UNDERSIZE AGGREGATES. THE ENDS OF THE HOPPER ARE CONNECTED TO A SUCTION SOURCE AND WHEN AGGREGATES ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE HOPPER, A BAFFLE DIRECTS THE MATERIAL TOWARD THE EDGES OF THE HOPPER, AND COLLECTION MAY TAKE PLACE. THE STRUCTURE IS SYMMETRICALLY ARRANGED SO THAT IT CAN BE OPERABLE IN CASE A TWIST SHOULD DEVELOP IN THE CONDUIT OR OTHER MEANS WHICH PLACES THE STRUCTURE ON THE SEA BOTTOM.

Jam-19, 1%?! M w, $M|TH 3,555,59$

MINING COLLECTOR Filed May 16, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR flfllrw I Melvin W. Smith I Jan. 19, 1971' M. w. SMITH MINING COLLECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1968 .5. w, 171 M w. SMITH MINING COLLECTOR Filed May-l6, 1968 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

19, 1971 i M. w. SMlTH 3,556,59&

MINING COLLECTOR Filed May 16, 1968 5 sheets-sheet 4 Jan. 19, 1971 M. w. SMITH 3,556,598

. MINING COLLECTOR Filed May 16, 1968 f 5 Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent O 3,556,598 MINING COLLECTOR Melvin W. Smith, Edgewater, Md., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 16, 1968, Ser. No. 729,728 Int. Cl. E02f 7/06 U.S. Cl. 299-8 32 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collector structure for subsea mining operations. The collector is generally cylindrical and rotatable around a horizontal longitudinal axis. A plurality of trays cylindrically disposed about the longitudinal axis are connected to a plurality of rings which engage the sea bed and rotate the trays as the collector is pulled. A plurality of teeth, each tooth located between respective rings at the lower portion of the collector insure that scooped up aggregates are deposited into the trays, A hopper at the front of the collector structure receives the aggregate material carried by the trays when the trays revolve to a point where the aggregates may drop into the hopper. Screens in front of and behind the revolving trays allow the ambient water moving past the collector to sweep out undersize aggregates. The ends of the hopper are connected to a suction source and when aggregates are deposited into the hopper, a baffle directs the material toward the edges of the hopper, and collection may take place. The structure is symmetrically arranged so that it can be operable in case a twist should develop in the conduit or other means which places the structure on the sea bottom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention in general relates to mining structures, and particularly to a collector for a mining system for mining the bed of a body of water as great depths.

List of prior art references U.S. Pat No. 2,804,156; U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,812; U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,950; U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,823.

Description of the prior art In subsea mining operations an aggregate collector is provided which is propelled or dragged along the sea bottom for picking up aggregates such as manganese or phosphate nodules. For very shallow depth operation. the collector may be brought up to a surface vessel and its contents emptied and thereafter deposited again on the sea bottom. For operations at greater depths, for instance 15,000 feet, the collected nodules are removed generally by some sort of a suction device connected to the collector. Some collectors are similar to drag heads used in dredging and would have the attendant disadvantages of picking up disproportionate amounts of sediment along with the aggregates or nodules. The vacuum cleaner type operation utilized, must operate at increased power requirements due to the unwanted sediment, such as clay and silt, which in addition, impose problems with respect to storage, transfer and unloading.

Various collectors are in the form of a flat scraper with the point of suction behind the point of contact with the bottom. The sediment cloud formed at the blade contact with the bottom is sucked up the conduit leading to the surface vessel and imposes similar problems with respect to the drag heads. .In addition, the flat type of scraper must be drawn over terrain which is fairly flat if it is to pick up nodules in its path. Where collection requirements are high in terms of tons per day, the scraper collector may have to be increased in size, thereby further aggravating bottom compatibility and increasing drag and power requirements.

Various types of collectors would tend to snag on large obstacles and accordingly there must be provided a viewing means such as a TV camera. Various types of surface mining collectors would not operate efliciently in a water environment due to the sediment that would be picked up and the maintenance problems involved.

Therefore a general object of the present invention is to provide an aggregate collector which is particularly well adapted for use in subsea mining at thousands of feet.

Another object is to provide a collector which is of relatively simple construction to reduce maintenance problems.

LA further object is to provide a collector which is readily adaptable to undulating terrain and able to surmount fairly large obstacles in its path.

Another object is to provide a collector which selectively collects aggregates within a predetermined size range.

Another object is to provide a collector for underwater mining which eliminates the need for electrical or movable mechanical connections with a surface vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the collector structure includes scoop means rotatable around an axis as the collector structure is moved over a terrain such as the bed of a body of water. Terrain engagement means digging into the terrain causes the rotation of the scoop means. A blade means for scraping the terrain is disposed for depositing the scraped up aggregates into the scoop means as it rotates. A hopper means within the volume of rotation of the scoop means is provided for receiving the contents of the scoop means. During underwater use, first and second screens located on either side of a portion of the scoop means serve to keep aggregates, of the predetermined size range, within the scoop means and to allow the ambient water to sweep away undersize aggregate such as silt and sediment. The blade means may be positioned on the lower portion of a follower having adjustable weights for determining the size cut that the blade means takes and to balance the shear strength of the sea bed. A second blade means is positioned on the upper portion of the follower. The hopper means maintains substantially the same orientation during the movement of the structure and the symmetrical nature of the structure, in conjunction with the second blade means, insures proper operation even if the connecting means to a surface vessel gets twisted thus turning the collector over.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the basic components of an underwater mining operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the collector, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the collector with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the collector, partially in section and with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the follower member;

FIG. 6 is a view along line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the apparatus illustrating the orientation of the hopper with respect to a mud cloud, during movement of the collector;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a circumferential ring member during fabrication thereof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a circumferential ring member;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the ring member of FIG 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the means to pull the collector; and

FIG. 14 illustrates another modification of a hopper means for the arrangement of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The collector of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as part of an underwater mining system which includes a surface vesesl 12 connected to the collector 10 by means of conduit 14. As the vessel 12 moves in the direction of the arrow it pulls the collector 10 along the bed of a body of water illustrated as the sea bottom 16. Alternately the collector may be provided with motive power to be self-propelled. The collector 10 may be described as generally cylindrical and rotatable about a longitudinal axis A. The rotation about the longitudinal axis A coupled with forward movement of the collector serve to pick up aggregates such as nodules 18 in the path of the collector. A draw member in the form of yoke 20 is connected to the collector 10 and may be formed of conduit so that the collected aggregates may be transported to the surface vessel 12 by means of a lift system such as a pump or air lift, well known to those skilled in the art.

Among the structural components of the collector. 10 are a scoop means which carries picked up aggregates, a terrain engagement means which rotates the scoop means about the longitudinal axis, a blade means which scrapes the sea bottom or other terrain, and a receiving bin or hopper into which the collected aggregates are deposited for removal to the surface vessel. For underwater use, first and second screening means are positioned to allow the ambient water to cary away undersized aggregates for example silt and sediment. These structural components are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, to which reference is now made.

The scoop means 25 is positioned coaxially about the longitudinal axis A and generally defines a cylindrical surface or configuration contained between end planes. By way of example, the scoop means includes a plurality of elongated trays extending in the general direction of the longitudinal axis A and preferably each tray extends in a straight line parallel to that axis. Each tray may be made up of first rod 27, a second rod 28 spaced therefrom, the rods being connected by a perforated, and preferably a screening material 29.

FIG. 2 shows the end views of the trays and several of the individual trays of the scoop means 25 have been given numerical references so that their orientation may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, tray 31 at the top of the collector 10 in FIG. 2 is illustrated as the top-most tray of FIG. 3, and tray 33 is illustrated as the bottom-most tray.

The trays of the scoop means are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis A and are arranged for conjoint rotation thereabout. This rotation of the scoop means as a unit is accomplished by connection to a terrain engagement means having terrain penetrating projections and in one embodiment comprising ap lurality of thin ring means 36 disposed along the length of, and coaxially about, the longitudinal axis A. The rings 36 are best illustrated in FIG. 4, however a front view of the rings illustrating the spacing is best illustrated in FIG. 3.

Each ring 36 includes a first terrain penetrating edge 38, see the front of the collector in FIG. 2, and a second edge 39 directly connected to the scoop means 25. More particularly, the second edge is directly connected to the second rods 28 of the trays. If the ring 36 and the rods 28 are metal, the direct connection may be made such as by welding.

Details of the ring will be discussed subsequently with respect to FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The blade means are utilized for scraping the sea bottom or other terrain and is disposed for depositing the scrapings into the scoop means 25 as it revolves around the longitudinal axis A. The blade means runs generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and in a preferred embodiment includes a plurality of individual teeth 50 located at the lower portion of the structure 10. A side view of one tooth may be seen in FIG. 2 whereas FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the teeth 50 with each tooth being positioned between adjacent rings 36. The teeth 50 may be connected to a longitudinal plate 52 by means of a bolt 54 illustrated in FIG. 2. A portion of the longitudinal plate 52 may also be seen in the lower cutaway portion of FIG. 3.

As seen in FIG. 2, the plate 52, and accordingly the teeth 50 are carried by a follower member 57 disposed rearwardly of the longitudinal axis A. The follower member 57 has an upper and lower portion preferably symmetrically disposed about a centerline C with the blade means therefor being located on the lower portion. If during the paying out of the conduit 14, see FIG. 1, there should develop a 180 twist such that the structure 10 turns over 180, normal and intended operation may still be maintained with the provision of a second blade means including a like plurality of individual teeth 50 connected to a longitudinally extending plate 52'. The teeth 50 are best illustrated in FIG. 4 and may also be seen through the horizontal rods in the upper cutaway portion of FIG. 3.

Prior to mining operations, information relative to the soil strength is obtained and in order to vary the depth of cut into the sea bed b the teeth 50 the follower means is provided with adjustable Weight means 58 and 58', as shown in FIG. 5, each of which are prepositionable along the centerline C.

The follower member 57 is connected by means of arms 60, 61 and 62 to an annular member 64 which encircles flange 65 of end plate 66, which end plate may be part of the terrain engagement means and therefore rotatable with respect to the annular member 64.

The flange 65 of end plate 66 is also rotatable about an apertured hub member 75 connected to hopper 77, as seen in FIG. 3. The hopper means 77 is disposed within the volume contained by the trays of the scoop means 25 and is positioned for receiving the contents of those trays.

The hopper 77 includes first and second wall portions 79 and 80, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, joined together at the bottom of the hopper and connected to first end wall 82 having an aperture 83, FIG. 3, and to second end wall 84, having an aperture 85, FIG. 4. The apertures 83 and 85 are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis A and are communicative by way of elbows 88 and 99 with respective conduit means 88 and 89, which may form the yoke 20 of FIG. 1, and which are connected to a means for removing the collected aggregates dumped into the open face of the hopper 77. v

Bafile means are provided in order to direct the aggregate dumped into the hopper 77 toward respective apertures 83 and 85. The bafile means takes the form of first and second sloped faces 97 and 98 joined centrally of the hopper means 77 and, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and each of which extend downwardly toward the apertures.

During underwater mining operations, the rings 36 dig into and are in frictional engagement with the sea bottom terrain. This frictional engagement coupled with forward movement of the collector results in a rotation of the rings 36 about the longitudinal axis A, and since the trays of the scoop means 25 are connected to the rings 36, rotation of the scoop means about the longitudinal axis will also occur. As the teeth 50 of the blade means scrape the sea bottom, aggregates, such as nodules will be forced into the rotating scoop means 25. The spacing between adjacent rings 36 is, during assembly of the collector, made equal to the maximum size aggregates to be collected. Aggregates greater than this maximum size are either broken up by the rings 36 and then collected or are pressed down into the sea bottom.

The scoop means 25 during a portion of its rotation passes between first and second screening means. The first screening means is connected to the follower member 57 and in one embodiment comprises a plurality of screening strips 102 extending between respective teeth 50 and 50' as best seen in FIG. 4. Second screening means in the form of screen 104 is connected to the hopper 77 and extends rearwardly thereof in a generally cylindrical shape and may be maintained for example by templet 106, seen in FIG. 4. i

The screening strips 102 are positioned to prevent scooped up aggregates greater than the mesh size of the strips from being swept away by the ambient water as the collector is moved along the sea bottom. The second screening means 104 connected to the hopper 77 is positioned to prevent scooped up aggregates greater than the mesh size from dropping out of the trays of the scoop means 25, until rotation thereof brings the trays to the open face of the hopper means 77. First and second screening means therefore aid in washing out undersized aggregates so that the material drawn up to the conduit from the hopper 77 is relatively free of silt and sediment.

FIG. 6, which is a view along the line VIVI of FIG. 2, illustrates in somewhat more detail the arrangement and orientation of parts. A tray 34 of the scoop means includes a first rod 27 and a second rod 28 joined to the rings 36 of the terrain engagement means. Relative movement of the ambient water indicated by the arrows P passes through the screen 104, over, under and through tray 34 and out through the screening strips 102 thereby aiding in elimination of the undersized aggregates. As the tray, for example tray 34 is rotated past the screening strips 102 the tray is inclined downwardly, see for example FIG. 2, and accordingly gravity prevents the collected aggregates from being swept away by the ambient water, while the screening 104 prevents the aggregates from falling inside the collector.

As the tray rotates, the open face of the hopper '77 is presented to it and the aggregates will fall into the hopper for collection. With the hopper 77 connected by means of conduits 88 and 89 to a lift system such an air lift, well known to those skilled in the art, the suction force present at the apertures 83 and 85 aid in removing the aggregates from the trays of the scoop means 25. In addition, the force of gravity, and movement through the ambient water aid in depositing the aggregates into the hopper 77.

As the collector is moved along the bottom during operation, the hopper 77 maintains substantially the same orientation during aggregate collection, with the major portion of the hopper means extending forwardly of the longitudinal axis. This is an important consideration in situations such as depicted in FIG. 7 where movement of the collector 10 causes a mud cloud 110. The hopper 77 therefore is substantially forward of the mud cloud 110 and accordingly the suction present at the hopper 77 will draw in clear Water, indicated by the arrows W, to lift the collected aggregates to the surface vessel.

In the event of an unscheduled shutdown of the removal system, such as the air lift, collected aggregates in the conduit 14, see FIG. 1, will fall back down toward the collector 10. In order to prevent possible clogging or damage there is provided valve means 115, see FIG. 2, at the lower portion of conduit 88. The valve means is biased to a closed position by spring means 116 and is normally in a closed position until the emergency situation where the weight of aggregates would open the valve whereby the aggregates would be deposited on the sea bottom as the collector is moved. A similar valve means may be provided for the conduit 89, see FIG. 3.

It has been stated that the forward movement of the collector 10 coupled with the frictional engagement of the rings 36 with the sea bottom serve to rotate the scoop means 25 about the longitudinal axis. In order to provide 6 more of a frictional engagement, in essence more of a push against the sea bottom, the rings 36 may be of a particular configuration, and to this end reference is now made to FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11.

FIG. 8 shows a ring 36 prior to fabrication and it is seen that the ring 36 is an elongated rectangular piece having a first longitudinal edge 38, a second longitudinal edge 39, two end edges '40 and 41 and a surface 42. Lines R1 and R2 are parallel lines merely for reference in describing the ring fabrication.

The edge 38 is chosen in accordance with the design criteria and is equal to the outer circumference of ring 36 such as seen in FIG. 2. Due to the rectangular nature of the strip in FIG. 8, the edge 39, equal in length to the edge 38 is also equal to the circumference of the outside of the ring 36.

The elongated rectangular piece of FIG. 8 is first corrugated by suitable means with the corrugations running from the first to the second edge along the length of the strip, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Lines R1 and R2 are still parallel. The edges '40 and 41 are then joined together to form a ring such that the edge 38- forms the outside edge or perimeter of the ring and edge 39 forms the inner edge closer to the center of the ring. Since the edge 38 was chosen to be equal to the outside circumference of the ring 36, after the joining of edges 40 and 41 edge 38 loses its undulating character as best seen in FIG. 10, or FIG. 11 which is the view looking straight on at the ring. It will be remembered that edge 39 has the same length as edge 38. Due to the depth of the ring however from edge 38 to 39, the same length edge must be compressed into a smaller circumference and hence edge 39 assumes an undulating shape as best seen in FIG. 10. The undulations may be thought of as criss-crossing the straight edge 38, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 10, the surface 42 proceeds from a fiat portion near the edge 38 to an undulating portion near the edge 39 and with this construction, the undulations provide for better frictional engagement with the terrain. The fact that the edges 38 and 39 are of equal length with the inside edge 39 undulating results in a surface 42 configuration which tends to compact the terrain as the penetration of ring 36 increases. More particularly it will be seen that the reference lines R1 and R2 of FIG. 8 are initially parallel to one another. After corrugation the reference lines R1 and R2 located on adjacent peaks of corrugation are still parallel to one another. After joining of the edges 40 and 41 and straightening of the first edge 38 the reference lines R1 and R2, as seen in FIG. 10 are sloped toward the center of the ring. Accordingly, when terrain penetration occurs, the penetrated terrain for a distance L1 from R1 to R2 along edge 38 is compressed to a distance L2 equal to the distance between peaks along edge 39.

A typical mining operation may be carried out at a depth of 16,000 feet. It will be appreciated that many miles of conduit extend rearwardly from the surface vessel to the collector on the sea bottom. During mining operations it is desired to know the exact position of the collector and to this end there is provided for the collector a sonic signal generator which emits a continuous sonic signal, detectable from the surface vessel 12 for indicating collector location. Accordingly, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a sonic signal generator 120 is mounted in a gimbal arrangement 122 which is connected to conduit 89. The gimbal arrangement 122 insures that the sonic signal generator 1'20 maintains the same orientation with respect to the surface, even if the collector should end up turned over as previously discussed. In order to eliminate the need for electrical cables extending many miles to the surface vessel the sonic signal generator is energized from a power source 124 which, for convenience, may also be mounted on the conduit 89.

During operation it is also desirable to know whether there is rotation of the collector. Accordingly, circuit means are provided for indicating rotation of the scoop means. This information as to rotation may be communicated to the surface vessel by means of the sonic signal generator. One method by which this may be accomplished is by providing an element such as a magnet 127 on the flange 65 which rotates about the hub 75 since it is connected to the end plate 66. A make and break circuit means 128 is placed on the non-rotating hub member 75 and is connected to the power source 124. The circuit means 128 is responsive to the presence of the magnet 127 to disconnect the power source 124 from the sonic signal generator 120 during each complete rotation of the flange member 65, and accordingly of the scoop means '25. Thus, the receipt of a continuous sonic signal from the sonic signal generator 120 provides an indication of collector location and periodic interruption of that signal provides an indication of collector rotation.

FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates another form of construction wherein the collector in essence is divided into two sections 129 and 130 and wherein the draw member is a T-shaped conduit 131. Each collector section 129 and 130 has terrain engagement rings 136 and each section would include a hopper and bafile means sloping toward the T conduit 131. The outer ends of the sections 129 and 130 may be suitably braced by members 138 and 139.

A dump valve 142 is located at the lower portion of the T conduit 131 in the event of a failure of the lift system as previously explained. With suitable modifications additional sections similar to 129 and 130 could be added on, along the longitudinal axis A, to increase the aggregate yield.

FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment wherein water is not only drawn in at the front F of the collector but is additionally drawn in from an area ahead of the moving collector. In FIG. 13 the draw member includes a first conduit 145 connected to the surface vessel and a second conduit 146 having an open end for receipt of ambient water as indicated by the arrow S. FIG. 14 illustrates the hopper arrangement for the embodiment of FIG. 13 and is seen that the hopper includes a first aperture 150 for connection to the conduit 145 and a second aperture 151 for connection to the conduit 146. A bafile member 154 extends from the open face of the hopper on one side thereof downwardly toward the aperture 150. The lower sloping portion of the baffle 154 includes a screen 156 so that water being drawn in through the aperture 151 may pass through the bafile means, that is through the screen 156 and carry away collected aggregeates of the conduit 145, FIG. 13.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are made possible in the light of the above teachings.

I claim as my invention:

1. An aggregate collector structure comprising:

(a) means for moving said structure along a terrain;

(b) scoop means extending coaxially about a longitudinal axis, and defining a cylindrical surface between end planes;

(c) terrain engagement means for rotating said scoop means around said axis as said structure is moved;

(d) blade means positioned at the lower portion of said scoop means and extending between said end planes, for scraping said terrain and disposed for depositing the scrapings into said scoop means;

(e) hopper means for receiving the contents of said scoop means and disposed within the volume contained by said cylindrical surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the scoop means includes a plurality of elongated trays each extending in the general direction of the longitudinal axis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) each tray extending in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the elongated trays are perforated for allowing an ambient medium, and collected material for a size smaller than the perforations, to pass therethrough.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the elongated trays are of a screening material.

6-. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) each elongated tray includes first and second spaced rods and screening material joining said spaced rods.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the first and second spaced rods are parallel with the longitudinal axis and the first rod is closer to the longitudinal axis than the second rod.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the elongated trays are symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the terrain engagement means includes a plurality of terrain penetrating projections.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the terrain engagement means includes a plurality of thin ring means disposed along the length of and nnaviallV about the longitudinal axis.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) the spacing between adjacent thin ring, means is equal to the maximum size aggregate to be collected.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:

(a) a thin ring means includes a first and second edge, said first edge being for terrain penetration, said second edge being connected to the scoop means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the length of the first edge is equal to the length of the second edge.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

(a) the second edge undulates.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the blade means extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of teeth.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the terrain engagement means includes a plurality of thin ring means disposed along the length of, and coaxially about the longitudinal axis;

(b) individual teeth of the blade means are located between adjacent thin ring means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the hopper means includes first and second longitudinal wall portions and first and second end wall portions, said first and second longitudinal wall portions being joined at the bottom of the hopper means, said portions defining an open face at the top of the hopper means;

(b) the major portion of the hopper means extending forwardly of the longitudinal axis.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the hopper means is disposed to maintain substantially the same orientation during aggregate collection operation.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) at least one of the end wall portions includes an aperture for connection to a removal means.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the means for moving includes a yoke member connected to the structure at the longitudinal axis; and

(b) the yoke member includes a conduit connected to the aperture of the hopper means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) both end wall portions of the hopper include respective apertures; and

(b) the means for moving includes a first conduit communicative with a first of the apertures; and which additionally includes;

(c) a second conduit connected with the second aperture and communicative with the ambient medium at an area forward of the collector structure.

22. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the aperture is symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis.

23. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the hopper means includes bafiie means for directing collected aggregates toward the aperture.

24. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein:

(a) both end wall portions include apertures for connection to removal means; and

(b) the baffie means includes first and second sloped faces each joined centrally of the hopper means and each extending downwardly toward respective apertures.

25. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the means for moving includes a yoke member connected to the structure at the longitudinal axis.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the collector structure is divided into two similar sections spaced along the longitudinal axis; and

(b) the means for moving includes a conduit disposed between said sections and communicative with the hopper means of each said section.

27. An aggregiate collector structure comprising:

(a) means for moving said structure along a terrain;

(b) scoop means extending coaxially about a longitudinal axis, and defining a cylindrical surface;

(c) terrain engagement means for rotating said scoop means around said axis as said structure is moved;

(d) a follower member disposed rearwardly of said longitudinal axis and said scoop means and having an upper and a lower portion;

(e) first blade means located on said lower portion of said follower member for scraping said terrain and depositing the scrapings into said scoop means; and

(f) hopper means for receiving the contents of said scoop means and disposed within the volume contained by said cylindrical surface.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27 which additionally includes:

(a) second blade means located on the upper portion of the follower member, to perform the function of the first blade means in the event the structure turns over 180.

29. Apparatus according to claim 27 which additionally includes:

(a) adjustable weight means for the follower member for adjusting the penetration of the blade means into the terrain.

30. An aggregate collector structure for subsea mining comprising:

(a) means for moving said structure along the bottom of a body of water;

(b) scoop means including a plurality of spaced trays cylindrically arranged for conjoint rotation about a longitudinal axis;

(c) means for engaging said bottom for rotating said scoop means, as said structure is moved;

(d) blade means for scraping said bottom for depositing the scrapings into the trays of the rotating scoop means;

(e) hopper means, having an open face, for receiving the contents of said trays, and being disposed within the cylindrical arrangement of said scoop means;

(f) first screening means;

(g) second screening means;

(h) said scoop means during rotation thereof passing between said first and second screening means.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 which additionally includes:

(a) a follower member disposed rearwardly of the scoop means; and wherein:

(b) the first screening means is connected to said follower member and positioned to prevent scooped up aggregates greater than the mesh size of the first screening means from being swept away by the ambient water, during operation; and wherein (c) the second screening means is connected to the hopper means and positioned to prevent scooped up aggregates greater than the mesh size of the second screening means from dropping out of the trays of the scoop means until rotation thereof brings the trays to the open face of the hopper means.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30 which additionally includes:

(a) a sonic signal generator for providing a continuous sonic signal, detectable from a surface vessel for indicating collector location; and

(b) means for providing an indication of the rotation of the scoop means, and operably connected to said sonic signal generator for periodically interrupting said sonic signal, the periodic interruption thereby being indicative of rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 752,247 2/ 1904 Newman 299-9 2,018,575 10/l935 Robinson 171112X 2,968,879 1/1961 Rusich 3755 3,010,232 11/1961 Skakel et al 37195 3,310,894- 3/1967 Ball 37-57 ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

